JTACs keep mission under control

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Yash Rojas
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Joint Terminal Air Controllers' ability to learn at a high speed is a skill that U.S. forces and allies forge in the field -- through practice and experience -- helping them become proficient war fighters.

The 353d Combat Training Squadron coordinated joint force training with JTACs from the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and British Army for the duration of RED FLAG-Alaska 11-3 and Distant Frontier.

The 19th Regiment Royal Artillery, also known as the Highland Gunners, sharpened their skills with the help of U.S. JTACs at the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex.

"The vast majority of aircraft in theater are American," said Staff Sgt. Garrick McMullin, 19th Regiment Royal Artillery unit supervisory air controller. "It's important that we train with our own aircraft, but also learn the differences between allies' military assets."

According to Jarrod Welsh, 353d CTS JTAC liaison and superintendant, by making sure less-experienced participants are comfortable with equipment and proper coordination of close air support missions we increase effectiveness in the field.

"During these exercises a lot of JTACs members are fresh out of school and have a regimented way they control CAS, so the first time he gets on the mic he may hear something he doesn't understand," Welsh said. "The more experienced, seasoned members have been exposed to more assets. They are better equipped to adapt to different situations."

JTACs conducted the majority of training in the Yukon training area that imitates the kind of terrain and environment servicemembers in this career field frequently encounter.

"JTAC training in itself is conducted out in the field," said Welsh. "The best way a JTAC Airmen can train is by training in the field because we like to train how we fight. If Airmen train in an environment that isn't similar to a real-world combat situation it's almost negative training."

As a result of state regulations and restrictions, British forces do not often get to employ ground designating laser technology. This equipment is commonly used to guide munitions during CAS missions.

"The range's target arrays are outstanding for our training purposes," said McMullin. "We tend to initially train for a war, not "the war" -all training is good training -- so the guys we have here are preparing for Afghanistan next year."

Welsh and other members of his team made it possible for his British JTACs at Eielson Air Force Base to receive world-class training in an environment comparable to real-world conditions. Such training environments provide real-world lessons that are critical to survival in the field, said McMullin.

"As a whole we are very happy with what we've been able to achieve," said McMullin. "We took our JTACs who have come out of military technical school with base-level knowledge in order to pass the course and been able to expand that knowledge even further."

At the end of the training day, learning what worked and what did not helps everyone understand how to improve next time. Getting it right in a training environment helps ensure JTACS successfully execute missions in a deployed environment.

"The debrief is where we make all of our money," said Welsh. "It's one thing to get a lot of good training, but if you don't debrief to highlight the points of improvement you often continue making the same mistakes.

Together, U.S. Airmen and British forces improved close air support during large force employments and focused on the importance of working alongside multinational partners while learning from them.

Participants of exercises like RF-A and Distant Frontier receive a tailor-fitted mode of training. It allows them to experience as real a threat as possible without actually being in combat. JTACs can make mistakes early at Eielson and learn invaluable lessons that may be the difference down range when it matters most.